“A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” ~Samuel Adamsin letter to James Warren, February 12, 1779

“The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, the rights of the Colonists as Christians may best be understood by reading and carefully studying the institutions of The Great Law Giver and the Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.” ~Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists, September 6, 1774, while proposing that Congress be opened with prayer, despite the delegates being of different Christian denominations which did not always get along

“In regards to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced . . . It is now generally agreed among Christians that this spirit of toleration, in the fullest extent consistent with the being of civil society, is the chief characteristical mark of the church.” ~Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists

“Government has no right to absolute, arbitrary power over the lives and fortunes of the people; nor can mortals assume a prerogative . . . reserved for the exercise of the Deity alone.” ~Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists

“Among the natural rights of Colonists are:
FIRST, a right to life;
SECONDLY, to liberty;
THIRDLY, to property;
together with the right to defend them . . . The supreme power cannot justly take from any man any part of his property without his consent.” ~Samuel Adams, The Rights of Colonists, 1772

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” ~Samuel Adams, in the Boston Gazette, 1781